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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Annabal Bagdi & Sam Ormiston

Royalist chewed man's face accusing him of 'hating the Queen' after Philip's death

A Royalist left a grandad with bite marks after chewing on his face because he said he 'hated the Queen' after Prince Philip's death.

'Drunk' Stephen Woodall declared "you are not a Royalist, you hate the Queen" before pouncing on victim Philip Price and biting him.

His 'degrading' onslaught at The Cabin pub in Dudley, West Midlands, only ended when shocked punters jumped in and helped split the pair up.

But he has avoided jail for his nasty pub attack, BirminghamLive reports.

The 'wholly unprovoked' assault came just months after the 40-year-old branded Mr Price a '****' and threatened to kick in his head for not 'showing some respect' in the wake of Prince Philip's death.

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard how Mr Price was contacted by the defendant on Facebook messenger at about 3.20pm on May 7 last year.

The defendant was handed a 12-month sentence, suspended for two years (Google Maps)

Woodall's message read: "You need to be careful, next time I see you I'm going to kick your head in. Show a bit of respect. You might not like the Royal family but show some respect."

A second message which was sent around two hours later featured a one-minute video clip of Woodall describing his victim as a c***.

Mr Price, 63, did not reply to the 'threats' but believed the defendant was 'capable' of attacking him.

Prosecutor Andrew Parker said Woodall 'held on to his disdain for some time' - even two months later when the pair crossed paths at The Cabin in Dudley on July 31.

Mr Price had gone to the smoking area at the Sedgley pub in Alderwood Precinct when he spotted his attacker with another man.

'Drunk' Woodall, of Keyes Drive, Kingswinford, 'gestured aggressively' towards Mr Price before declaring "you are not a Royalist, you hate the Queen".

He then walked up to him, gripped him by both shoulders and shoved him against a wall.

The argument happened in the aftermath of Prince Philip's death (PA)

Woodall then bit Mr Price on the left side of his face before a passer-by jumped in, allowing him to 'prise himself away'. Mr Price, who was left in 'excruciating pain', quickly rushed inside the pub and raised the alarm with staff before police were called.

Teeth marks were 'clearly' visible' on his face after he was handled in a 'gratuitous and degrading' way, the court was told on Thursday (July 7). Mr Parker added: "He just happened to disagree with Woodall's views concerning the Royal family."

In a statement read to the court, Mr Price said he struggled to hug his grandchildren following the attack and suffered multiple strokes. He was also prescribed antibiotics for an infection after seeing his GP.

The victim said: "I'm constantly worried around other people, especially when they are behind me." Woodall, who represented himself, blamed his offending on 'boyish mistakes'.

He said: "I'm not a bad lad, I have just made stupid mistakes. I'm absolutely terrified that I'm going to prison today. It's going to have massive psychological effects on my partner.

"I wish Mr Price was here today and I could apologise to him. Unfortunately I can't turn back the hands of time, I wish I wasn't there that night.

"I 100 per cent regret what I have done and I'm ashamed of myself." Sentencing, Recorder David Lock said Woodall thought his victim was not paying 'significant respect' to the Royal family following the death of Prince Philip.

Woodall had been 'drinking all day' with a colleague before spotting Mr Price in the pub and launching the 'wholly unprovoked' attack.

He said: "We live in a democracy where there are a huge variety of views on a whole manner of subjects.

"You have to respect the views of others, whether you agree, disagree or even find them offensive. You suggested that this was a stupid spur-of-the-moment event - I do not accept that.

"The assault only stopped because others pulled you off." He added: "You assaulted him because you disagreed with his views."

The recorder went on to say there was 'no medical evidence' Mr Price's strokes were caused by the stress of his attack but accepted it did affect his confidence.

Woodall admitted wounding to inflict grievous bodily harm and sending a communication conveying a threatening message.

He was handed a 12-month sentence, suspended for two years, and told to carry out 200 hours unpaid work. He must also pay £1,000 compensation, £340 costs and a £187 victim surcharge.

The court heard how the defendant had a previous conviction for firing an air rifle beyond premises and criminal damage in May 2014.

He was previously handed a 12 month-community order, with six months supervision and 80 hours unpaid work.

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